W.H. urges 'proactive action' against Hezbollah

2/5/13 11:08 AM EST

White House counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan on Tuesday came out swinging at Lebanese Hezbollah after Bulgarian authorities concluded the group was behind a July 2012 bombing in Burgas.

"Bulgaria’s investigation exposes Hezbollah for what it is – a terrorist group that is willing to recklessly attack innocent men, women, and children, and that poses a real and growing threat not only to Europe, but to the rest of the world," Brennan said in a statement.

"We commend Bulgarian authorities for their determination and commitment to ensuring that Hezbollah is held to account for this act of terror on European soil. The United States will continue to provide the Bulgarian Government assistance in bringing the perpetrators of this heinous attack to justice."

Brennan, President Obama's nominee to lead the CIA during his second term, also dinged Hezbollah for supporting the Syrian regime.

"Hezbollah’s dangerous and destabilizing activities – from attacking tourists in foreign countries to leader Hassan Nasrallah’s active support of Bashar al-Assad’s violent campaign against the Syrian people – threaten the safety and security of nations and citizens around the world," he said.

Brennan urged Europe and other international partners to take "pro-active action to uncover Hezbollah’s infrastructure and disrupt the group’s financing schemes and operational networks in order to prevent future attacks."

"Bulgaria’s implication of Hezbollah underscores the importance of international cooperation in disrupting terrorist threats," he said.

The bombing on July 18, 2012, killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver.